Hambledon Cottage provides another historic venue, for visitors who are already planning on visiting Elizabeth Farm, the oldest European style building in Sydney. Elizabeth Farm has been restored and maintained in its traditional form, as the house of early settlers and sheep farmers, John and Elizabeth Macarthur.
Hambledon Cottage is also located in
Parramatta and was built in 1824, to provide residence for Penelope Lucas, who was the governess to Elizabeth and John Macarthur's daughters. At other times the cottage was also the residence for notable public figures, including General Sir Edward Macarthur, Dr Matthew Anderson Archdeacon and Thomas Hobbes Scott.
Penelope named the Georgian style, sandstock and cedar cottage after her English township of Hambledon. Many of the interior fixtures are completely original, and the furnishings are still in the traditional 1800's style, allowing visitors to really obtain a genuine glimpse into the early lifestyles of Australian settlers.
Hambledon Cottage is a smaller residence, compared with Elizabeth Farm, yet it still showcases the life of the early settlers, including the way they ate, slept, worked and socialised. The cottage still contains an old brick oven and traditional kitchen block, which is a major contrast to the way Australians build their kitchens and cook today.
The gardens are well kept and include many trees that hold important historical stories themselves, including some which have been heritage listed. Wander through the gardens on your visit to Hambledon Cottage, relax and reflect as this is one of the few buildings of its kind left in the Sydney area.
Hambledon Cottage is accessible by public transport, and is open weekends and some weekdays and public holidays. Visiting and learning about the history of the cottage and early settlers is suitable for the whole family. The building is now the home of the Parramatta and District Historical Society.
